The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of acting in bad faith following the arraignment of its National Commandant, Dr. Dickson Akoh, and the organisation’s Director of Finance, Mrs. Omolola Aminat Ahmed. The two officials were arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on December 11 over a contract dispute.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by its Media Consultant, Comrade Peterhot Apeh, the organisation described the EFCC’s actions as unlawful, illegal, and unnecessary. The PCN insisted that the matter at the centre of the case was a simple civil contract disagreement between the Corps and Jethel Nigeria Global Resources Limited, not a criminal offence.
According to the statement, “It was wrong and misleading for the EFCC to criminalise a civil contract transaction freely entered into by both parties. The arraignment of our National Commandant and Director of Finance is uncalled for and shows the EFCC acted in bad faith.”
The Peace Corps explained that the contract at the centre of the controversy — Contract No. 101/PCN50 was awarded to Jethel Nigeria Global Resources Limited on July 12, 2024. The contract covered the production of badges of ranks, service badges, beret badges, and other related kits. The company reportedly accepted the contract in writing on the same day.
However, the Corps said it ran into challenges fulfilling the payment terms due to the police sealing off its national headquarters in Abuja. The secretariat, which had been shut for a long period due to earlier disputes involving the Nigeria Police Force, was unable to operate. This, according to PCN, made it impossible to sell the badges to its members nationwide and generate the funds needed to pay Jethel in full.
The organisation said, “Our activities were crippled. We could not sell the badges, which means we could not get the money for the contract. This was caused by the unlawful sealing of our headquarters by the police.”
The Corps said Jethel petitioned the Nigeria Police Force on March 6, 2025, over delayed payment. The Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) then invited both parties for a meeting on the same day, through a letter identified as No. 3000/IGP-SEC/MU/ABJ/T.2/Vol.115.
After listening to all sides, the IGP’s office reportedly resolved the matter by confirming that the issue was a simple business disagreement. Both parties were then guided to sign a written agreement on facilitating short-term payment.
The PCN said it began complying with the agreement and made a part payment of ₦20 million to Jethel on December 9, 2025. The organisation described this payment as a demonstration of goodwill and proof that it was committed to fulfilling the contract.
Despite the police-backed agreement, the Peace Corps said Jethel still submitted a similar petition against the organisation to the EFCC on March 10, 2025 — just four days after the police had already resolved the matter.
The PCN said this second petition violated the earlier agreement and suggested that Jethel was acting in bad faith. The organisation accused the EFCC of siding with Jethel “without looking at the facts of the matter or respecting the police resolution.”
According to the statement, “Rather than encouraging the peaceful settlement reached at the Police Headquarters, the EFCC took sides with Jethel and used harassment and intimidation against our officials in a matter that is purely civil.”
The organisation said its Director of Finance went to the EFCC’s office on December 9 to present evidence of the ₦20 million payment. Instead of acknowledging the effort, the EFCC allegedly detained her.
The Corps further claimed that its National Commandant, Dr. Dickson Akoh, went to the EFCC office to secure her release, but he was also arrested and detained.
PCN said such actions were unnecessary and showed that the EFCC was acting as a debt recovery agency, rather than an anti-corruption body.
“Our officials were arrested not because they committed a crime but because they refused to compromise with some operatives who wanted to misuse their power,” the group alleged.
The Peace Corps said the EFCC ignored two separate court orders that were meant to stop harassment of its officials.
It said an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice J. E. Obanor had, on August 11, 2025, ordered the EFCC to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the contract dispute. That order was issued after the Director of Finance, Omolola Ahmed, filed a motion asking the court to stop the EFCC from harassing or detaining her in relation to the contract.
The Corps added that another High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Edward Okpe, had on April 7, 2025, restrained Jethel Nigeria Limited from arresting or threatening the Peace Corps National Commandant.
PCN said these court orders showed clearly that the matter was civil and not criminal, and that the EFCC should not have gone on to arraign its officials.
The Peace Corps called on the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, to intervene and stop what it described as unlawful actions by operatives of the Commission. The organisation reminded him that, as a lawyer, he should understand the difference between civil contract disputes and criminal cases.
The statement added, “We expect the EFCC Chairman to call his officers to order. This is not corruption. This is not fraud. It is a simple business transaction with documented evidence.”
The Corps demanded that all charges against its National Commandant and Director of Finance be dropped immediately. It warned that allowing such arraignments to continue would damage the EFCC’s public image and create the impression that the agency was being used to settle private business disputes.
PCN said, “If these charges continue, it will appear as though the EFCC is now a debt recovery agency for individuals and organisations. This will destroy public trust in the Commission.”